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Baohaus is an intimate little bao peddler in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, owned by restauranteur, author and TV personality Eddie Huang. Since it’s opening in 2009, it exclusively serves-up gua bao, which are (for those who don’t know) those fluffy white Taiwanese tacos filled with delicious things. Inside the tight quarters, you get hip hop, exposed brick, graffiti and an open kitchen. The zen like simplicity is seemingly suitable for “grab and go” punters vs getting smoochy with a date if you know what I mean.

Thirst quenching and palate cleansing.

At $4 a pop, you can have a ‘Chairman bao’ – a red cooked pork belly, topped with crushed peanuts, red sugar; pickled mustard greens, and a garnish of coriander. The unctuousness-butteriness from the pork comes from sealing the pork in a hot pan, which is then braised in rice wine, soy sauce, rock sugar, ginger and star anise. Oh and cherry Cola is added into the stock! This is known “red cooking” which hails from the Hunan province. Mao Zedong had a penchant for red-cooked pork belly, hence the name.

The Birdhaus Bao at $3.55 is a fried succulent piece of chicken brined for 24hrs, which is then seasoned with Haus special salt, lemon-garlic aioli, crushed peanuts for texture, red sugar and sprinkles of coriander. It was delish, with a great texture but with the pork belly as company it was outshined.

Fried fish bao is pimped with Haus tartare sauce, lemon cabbage slaw, fried garlic, crushed peanuts, red sugar and coriander. The fish is cooked so well, piping hot and steaming when we bit into the crunchy exterior. The additional elements, especially the red sugar and crushed nuts added to the textural experience. If there is something I’d come for, this would be it – this was unanimous amongst us too.

The verdict:

When did I go? November 2016The damage: Expect to pay $20ish per head.The good:Every bao we had, was satisfying and put us in all kinds of happy – I salut Eddie for bringing his own rendition of Taiwanese street food to NYC. I’m sure it’s the “dragon sweat” he’s put into it!The bad: My only grumble is that I prefer my pork belly with an even meat/fat ratio.Rating:4/5Would I go again? YesAddress: 238 E. 14th St, New York, NY 10003, USAPhone: +1 646-669-8889
https://www.baohausnyc.com